Socket for vacuum tubes



May 22, 192s.-

A 1,670,849 w. M. DoRAN SOCKET FOR VACUUM TBES Filed June 18, 19.26

Patented May 22, 1928.

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. DORAN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A'SSIGNOILOF ONE- I THIRD TO EDWARD F. KIMBALL AND ONE-THIRD TO TILLIE MGUIBE DOW,

BOTH OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SOCKET FOR-VACUIM TUBES.

The .present invention relates to improvements in vacuum tube `sockets and means for connecting vacuum tribes therewith.

. In the constructions of vacuum `tube 5 sockets commonly employed in radio receiving sets, the circuit terminals in the socket which co-operate .with plugs on the base of -the vacuum tube supported by the socket are separated or spaced laterally one from the 10 other by open spaces. 'Experience has shown that many of the ndcsired,' extraneous, sounds heard when a radio receiving set is being used, are dueto eddying and straycurrents passing-acrossy the spaces thus sepai-ating the socket contacts. lThese objection- Y able results can'be' avoided',`being practically eliminated,'and the quality, volume and control ofsig'nalsmaterially improved, if means are provided whereby said socket terminals are eiectually insulated one 'from' the other.

A particular object ofthe resent invention is to provide means whereby each socket contact will beeiiectually insulated from every other similar contact, while maintaining proper electrical connection with the associated. prong of thev tube base supported by thesocket. v Y

With this and other ends in view, the invention consists in the construction and ar- 0' rangement of parts that will be hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had 4-to the accompanying' drawing,l in whichz- '1 y Fig. lis a view, the socket being shown partially'inv section, ot` a vacuum tube socket and tube having an embodiment of the present invention applied thereto, said socket" and tubebeing shown in separated relation.` Fig. .2 is a view, ,partially in se'etion,"on a slightly lenlarged scalc,.rshowing the tube itted' within thesocketf.

Fig.,3 isa 'detail vlew of the improved base or 'closure for the-contact end of lthe,`

socket, detached. `Fig. f1 is anelevati'on villustrating a slightly modified form'.

Fig. 5 is a detail lof a meansOr securing. the improve socket base tothe' body of the socket. I Fig. 6l is h 'detail'view of'one of the elements of my improved insulation means...

parts is purely conventional.

Referring to the'drawin'gsf, in the several views of which' corresponding parts areidesignated by like reference characters, l designates a vacuum tube,l from the base of which 55 depend a plurality of terminal prongs 2. It will beunderstood that the presentinvention isnot limitedto use witlrany par-` ticular typel or style of vacuum tube or socket therefor, and therillustration of'many of the 60 In the embdiment of the invention illustrated, the tube base 1 is provided with four (4) depending terminal prongs 2, each of whichis designed to cooperate with a con- 65 vtact 3 .supported by and projecting inwardly from the annular vvall 5 of Va tube socket. As shown, the 'socket contacts 3 are of spring sheet'i metal, each beingsecured to an an nul`ar Harige 6 at one end of the tubular body 70 of the socket, by a suitable screw connection 7 for. attachment kof a circuit conductor, not shown. The socket contacts 3 shown extend radially into the space within the tubular body 5, and, normally, the inner ends of said 715 contactsare separated by a. clear space, similar spaces separating the adjacent edges-of the several contacts. I 8 designates a closure or base for the end of the tubular socket body adjacent the contacts 3, said base beso ing provided on one face with a boss 9, which is of such dimensions and form as to fit are formed a plurality of sockets 10 correv8&5

' spondingin form and relation to the conftacts3.

The sockets or grooves 10 extend radially through the periphery of the boss -9 .`and are of such depth that when the closure 8 is -applied against the lower face of the 90 flange, 6 .ofthe socket, the inner surface of 'the boss. will be in the plane of or slightly above the horizontal plane of the several contacts 3.

As shown, the base 8 is provided with 95 diametrically opposed thickened .sections 11 which .closely abut opposite sides ofthe iange 6 of the socket,which flange is preferably of substantially rectangular form.

A s shown, apertures 12 are formed in the 10Q sections 11 of the base, through which suit- `able fastening means maybe passed to sebase 8 may be oit any suitable insulating material, rubber having been :found very satisfactory.

When the base 8 is secured to thetlangc 6 of the socket body and the tube base 1 is inserted therein, the ends et the terminal plugs 2 will bear upon the socket contacts 3 and depress the latter slightly, making a good electrical contact therewith, the sides and inner end ot each said socket contact erably two'are'employed, as shown.

being, as shown and above described, separated by the portions or' the insulating boss 9 lilling the spaces normallv Aseparating one contact from the other. V

Means are also provided for eect'ually separating the projecting portions of the terminal prongs 2 ot thetubebase to substantially prevent the passage ot current -laterally orradially therefrom and *assist in' the insulation separation of the socket, contacts. As shown, this means includes tvto Washers 13, 111, .each ot Whiclris 'provided with apertures through which the prongs '2 on the tube base extend, such washers being collectively of a' thickness substantially equal to the length of the projecting portionsot' said prongs, and allowing only the extreme free ends oit the prongs -to project, so that While the desired electric contact may be made With the socket contacts 3,

.there Will be a body ot insulation in the path of any stray current tendingto pass laterally between theV prongs.

lln some instances, Where the terminal prongs 2 of the tube basev are relatively short, a single washer maygsutlice, but preti;

Washer or washers are of an),TA suitable cornpressible .insulating material, such as sott rubber, and Where a plurality of Washers is employed,A they are preferably of different degrees of compressibility. 'llhat is, the washer 13, for example, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, is relatively softer and more easily compressed than the Vwasher 14, the result being that when the tube base is interlocked with .the socket, the softer washer 13 will bc comsderably compressed against the. inner face of the boss 9 of the socket closure and causedl to eil'ectuallm.' close-the sockets in the base 8 withintain the tube in engagement with thersocket and maintain the desired electrical contact between the prongs 2 and contacts 3.

:intense the boss t) is provided with ya v short lateral projection 13?, which is adapted to fit within` the groove-15 in the annular wall or shell ot lthe socket body, and this insures that the parts can only be assembled when the recesses in the bossi) are properly positioned to receivethe contacts 3.

r-llhe base member 8 may be secured .to the socket body by.. suitable fastening means passing through apertures 8" therein,- or spring clips 21, as shown in detail in Figure 5, may be provided, said clips including parallel members 22 and 23 adapted to respectively engage the upper face of the socket vflange 6 and the lower face oft the base 8,

llt is believed that the invention will be readily .understood from the foregoing description and the drawing.

lt will be seen'byl the invention that the base or closure for the contact end of the socket is so litted and attached-to the socket as to eti'ectually insulate the socket contacts one from the otl1er,.and positively interrupt any lateral flow ot' current from one Contact to the other. The Washers or disks on the tube base notonly etlectually insulate the terminal prongs 2 from each other, throughout'their length but co-Operate with lthe insulation means for the contacts 3, so that the currents can only pass in the desired paths,

namely, from or tothe several contacts 3 and cti-operating terminal prongs 2.4

By making the closure base 8 of suitable resilient matcrialythe socket and tube -Will be cushioned against shocks or jars and, as before noted` the means described prevents the clement 'within the tube from being affected by extraneous sounds o1l Vstray cur- 'rents passing between the terminal prongs of the tube or the socket contacts,- and the result is that the volume and quality of the tones obtained are materially improved.

, It'will be understood, of course, thatmany ot the features ot the invention could be embodied in other forms than those illus-- trated, and, therefore, unless specifically noted in the appended claims, it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact details shown. y f

While the members 13, 14, areshown as being detachable from the prongs 2, they might be permanently connected with thel tube base or constitute a part vof such base as manufactured. The embodiment, ofvthc invention illustrated is one in which the socket and tube are of constructions com eol monly in use in which thereis normally no provision for lateral insulation of either the contacts 3 or-prongs 2. .f

The means tor insulating the contacts' 3 might be included in the socket as originally manufactured instead of being applied asa deta'cliable closiii'e. I

l. A vacuum tube socket comprising a tubular body, adapted to receive a vacuum tube base andv having a. pluralityot contacts extending laterallyinward from its annular wall into position to be engaged by terminal plugs iii a tube base inserted in the socket, and means cooperating with the body and including members 'ot' insulating material positioned inthe spaces separating the edges and inner ends of said socket contacts, and' cxteudingiinto thebody ot the socket substantiallyush with the inner faces of the' contacts. for the purpose described.

2. A vacuum tubesocket comprising a tubular body, adapted to receive a vacuum tube base and having a plurality of contacts extending laterally inward from its annular wall into position to be engaged by terminal plugs in a tube base inserted in the socket, and a'closuredor the end of the body adjacent the contacts thereof having on its iiiiiei' face insulating material forining a plurality of sockets each adapted. to receive one of said contacts, substantially as-and for the purpose'described.

3. A vacuumtube socket comprising a tubular body, adapted to receive a vacuum tube base and having a plurality of contacts extending laterally inward from its annular wall into position to be eiigagedby terminal plugs in a tube base inserted fin the socket, a. closure for the end of the body adjacent the contacts including a plurality of'mem bers of insulating material positioned to separate the adjacent edges of said contacts, and means tor dctacliably securing said closure in position. A

4t. A vacuum tube socket comprising a. tubular body, adapted to receive a vacuum 'tube base and having a plurality of contacts extending laterally inward from its annular wall-into position to be engaged by terminal plugs in a tube base inserted in the socket, and a base member having a boss extending into the end ofthe tubular body adjacent the contacts and having formed in its inner face a plurality ,of sockets, that extend through the periphery of the boss, each socket receiving one of said. contacts. the side walls of said sockets beingv .of insulating material and extending between adjacent edges of any two contacts for the puipose described.

5. vA vacuum tube socket comprising a tubular body, adapted to receive a vacuum tube base and having a plurality of contacts extending radially inward from its'anniilar` wall into 'position to be engaged by terminal the -inner face of 'said boss being in a transverse plane inwardly beyond'the parallel plane including the contacts.'k

6.*A vacuum tube socket eon'iprising 'a' i. tube socket comprising a tubular body, adapted vto receive a vacuum tube base and having a plurality of contacts extending laterally inward from its annular wall into position to be engaged by terminal plugs on'a tube base inserted in the socket and provided at the end adjacentvsaid contacts with an exterior lateral flange, a b ase member contacting with said fiange and havlms ing on its inner tace projecting means of insulating material that extend into the spaces betwen the edges and'inner ends of 'said contacts, and means connecting said base member and flange. Y

8. A vacuum tube socket comprising a. tubular body, adapted to` receivea vacuum tube base and having a plurality of contacts extending laterally inward from. its annular wall into position to be'engaged termi nal plugs on` atube base inserted in the socket and provided at the end adjacent said contacts with an exterior lateral flange,`a

'bas-e membercontacting with said ange and haringen its inner face projecting means of insulating material that extend into thelf 'spaces betweeny said contacts, and clips detachabl'y engaging said base member and flange means connecting said base member and flange.

9.)'I'hev combination with a vaeui1m tube having a plurality of terminal plugs projectingl downward from its base, of a socket 'including'a tubular body adapted to receive said tube base' and having a plurality of contacts'extending inward from its annular wall in position to be engaged by the termiiti and. means secnring tbe tribe 'base Witliin socket and holding; said 'waslier in clos-e contact with the 'inner surfaces of tbe insulating means between tbe socket contactsy iter tlie purpose describedu ld 'ilie combination with Vacuum tribe leaving1 pluralitg7 ot terminal plugs pronl fleeting; downward from its base, ot a socket including" a tnbnlar body,Y adapted to receive said tube base and liavine; a plurality ot con extending inward .trom its annnlar Wall* in position to be engaged by the' terniinal pluegs on the tube base, insalatinagr rneans within said body substantially filling tlie spaces between tlie edges ot the contacts therein, a plurality of Washers, eacli pro vided n'itb apertures through wliicli tbe terminal prongs ot' the base extend, inserted in the socket body with the tribe base, and means securing tlie tube base- Within tlie socket and holdingf the adjacent Washer in close contact with the inner'snrtaces oitD the insulating spacing-means between tlie socket contacta for the'purpose described.

l1. 'lllie combination with a vacuum tube having a plurality ot' terminal plugs projectvspaces between `tlie edges ot the contacts therein, a plurality 'of Washers, each pro vided with apertures through Wbicli the terminal prongs ot the tube base extend, inn

serted in the socket body with tbe tribe basa, said Washers littering in. degree ot corn pressibility, and .securing tbe t be base Witliin tlie socket and holding tbe .u jacent washer in close contact the inner surfaces of the insnlatingspacing nieans tween tlie socket contacts, for tbe purpose described,

l2. The combination witli a vacuum tube liar/ing a plurality ott terrliinal plugs project ing t'rorn its base, oi a socket including a tubular body adapted to receive said tube base and baringr a plnralityof contacts posik1 tioncd to bear against tlie'tree ends oit tbe plugs on-tlie tribe base ivlientlie latter is yWitliinv tlie socket, and insulating material within the tubular body ot the socket, adjacent the contacts thereon and separable from said body, for obstructing thopassage oil current laterally between, Said contacts in the socket and between the said pron-gerenx the tube base.

13. An attachment for vacuum tube sock`1 ets-comprising a base adapted to be applied against the end of a vacuum tube socket adjacent tlie contact terminals thereof and hav ing a boss of insulating material adapted to extend into the body of the socket into the space separating the inner ends ot the conta`ct terminals ,ot the socket to which the attachment is applied and provided in its face with a pluralityv ot recesses ea-cli adapted toV receive one of said Contact terminals.

ln testimony whereof ll llave hereunto set my hand.

WlLlLlAM M. DURAN. 

